Crime & Arrests

Ex-MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini -- the Minnesota Twins' first-round pick in the 1992 draft -- was found guilty of murder on Monday.

According to the Placer County District Attorney's Office, the baseball player was also convicted of attempted murder and first-degree burglary following a jury trial.

The charges stemmed from allegations that Serafini had brutally attacked his in-laws, Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood, during a 2021 incident in Tahoe City.

5:10 PM PT -- A judge granted Aida's request for a temporary restraining order but denied her request for temporary sole custody of their two children.

Columbus Short's wife says he's been roughing her up for years ... and she's got photos of her alleged injuries.

Aida Abramyan-Short beelined it to court Monday and filed for a temporary restraining order against the actor, claiming he got violent with her as recently as last week ... on the same day he claims she busted his eye open and abused a 10-week-old puppy.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Aida claims she was doing laundry July 7 while Columbus was boozing ... and she says he snapped at her and then put his hands on her.

Sam Haskell Jr. -- the accused wife-murderer and son of legendary TV agent Sam Haskell -- left a suicide note referencing his children, but there's a twist ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... before taking his own life at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles last Saturday, Haskell left behind a note proclaiming he would miss his 3 best friends -- his children.

What's interesting ... Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told us Haskell had purchased a one-way plane ticket for himself to Japan with his girlfriend before he was arrested, so there's evidence he was going to abandon his kids.

7/14/2025 3:00 PM PT -- The judge just granted Katy's permanent restraining order.

Katy Perry is seeking court-ordered protection from a homeless man she claims keeps showing up to her home uninvited ... and her security team believes the guy won't take "no" for an answer.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Katy filed a temporary restraining order against a 43-year-old man named Ross Elliott Hedrick. She says he's a transient and has twice visited her property in Santa Barbara, California.

Katy filed the TRO on June 18 ... and in her request, she also seeks protection for Orlando Bloom, noting he is her "partner" who lives with her. As we first reported, Katy and Orlando have since split.

The "Last Friday Night" singer claims Hedrick visited her Santa Barbara estate multiple times in May ... she says he was arrested after the first unwanted visit and then returned a week later.

12:00 PM PT -- Nathan Hochman joined us on TMZ Live to discuss the new details in the case.

7:40 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Sam Haskell Jr. died after slitting his wrists at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in L.A.

Sam Haskell Jr., the son of legendary TV agent Sam Haskell, killed himself in jail just 2 days before his preliminary hearing to determine if he should stand trial for allegedly dismembering his wife and killing her parents ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Haskell took his life behind bars Saturday, although the manner of death was not disclosed.

Haskell pled not guilty to murdering Mei Li Haskell and her parents, Gaoshan Li and Yanxiang Wang, back in 2023. He allegedly dismembered the bodies, stuffed them in garbage bags, and then hired 4 day laborers to take the bags to a dump site.

More details surrounding Quinshon Judkins' arrest have been revealed -- the Cleveland Browns' second-round pick is accused of punching a woman in the mouth during an argument inside a car.

According to a police report of the alleged July 7 incident, the woman -- who acknowledged they were in a romantic relationship -- stated the two landed at Fort Lauderdale International Airport for a trip ... and when she left to use the restroom while waiting at baggage claim, she returned to an upset Judkins.

The woman told cops Judkins said things like "I'm so done with you" and "Oh wow, I can't believe you" ... but she had no idea what he was talking about.

Ethan Chapin’s family is speaking out -- but they’re not joining the outrage. While other victims' families are fuming over Bryan Kohberger dodging the death penalty, the Chapins say they’re at peace with it.

Speaking to NBC News, Ethan’s dad Jim Chapin said he doesn't care what happens to Kohberger, because he’ll get what’s coming. What matters most is that he’s off the streets and can’t hurt any more kids.

Jim’s wife Stacy said their stance has shifted -- at first, it was "eye for an eye" ... but after talking with prosecutors, they felt this deal made more sense for their family.

This is a BIG DEAL ... the judge in the Menendez case says the new evidence unearthed in the murder case -- if true -- makes a compelling case to throw out their convictions ... which would mean they could be released even without a parole board hearing.

According to new court documents, obtained by TMZ, L.A. County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan, has reviewed the 2 pieces of new evidence -- the first is a letter purporting to be from Erik Menendez to his cousin, Andy Cano, which would corroborate Cano's testimony about Jose Menendez molesting Erik.

The second piece of evidence -- a declaration from Roy Rossello, a former member of Menudo, who claims he was anally raped and orally copulated by Jose in either 1983 or 1984. This declaration, according to Menendez attorney Mark Geragos, shows the prosecution was off base in characterizing Jose as "not the kind of man" who would abuse his children. Also, the judge in the murder trial severely limited testimony about alleged sexual abuse.

"Empire" star Bryshere Gray needs mental help more than a jail sentence -- this, according to his pal Dustin "Chosen" Wilkins ... who filed a criminal complaint against him in June after the pair got into a physical altercation at a Virginia hotel.

Chosen tells TMZ he only went forward with the report because the actor is suffering from several mental health conditions that were exacerbated when he stopped taking his medications -- and was drinking on top of that -- and believed pressing charges could jumpstart getting him into treatment.

Production sources confirm to TMZ the pair were spending time together in Virginia as they prepared to work on "The Starboys" ... but Bryshere is no longer associated with the project. quite responsible when it comes to taking his meds and monitoring his alcohol intake.

However, Chosen adds Bryshere is easily sidetracked by people who don't have his best interest in mind.

Chosen describes Bryshere -- who we learned was dropped by his pubic relations agency this week -- as his "little brother" ... which is why he cares so much about what happens with him over the assault and battery charge.

Chosen tells us he would gladly have the charge dropped if Bryshere would commit to a mental health treatment plan and focus on his wellbeing.

He says he worries about the possibility of BG heading to the clink -- and even admits he regrets filing the complaint.

We broke the news -- Chosen filed a misdemeanor complaint against the actor and rapper on June 13 by bypassing police and directly working with the Chesapeake magistrate's office. A warrant for his arrest was issued ... and Bryshere was taken into custody on June 15.

Plot twist -- Chosen is the one who bonded him out within hours.

Oh -- and he wants to make it crystal clear that their quarrel did not erupt over a "payment dispute" as he wrote in his complaint. He says the situation quickly got ugly due to the state of Bryshere's mental health, and that's that.

Production sources confirm to TMZ the pair were spending time together in Virginia as they prepared to work on "The Starboy" ... but Bryshere is no longer associated with the project.

It's not clear if the "Canal Street" actor will return to the small screen anytime soon, as Chosen says he previously confessed to him he wants out of the entertainment industry because it's been so hard on him.

Chosen says he and BG do not currently aren't in contact due to the "no contact" order in place. Court documents show Chosen appeared at the Chesapeake General District Court on Monday to amend the bond provision so Bryshere could have contact with him ... but was denied.

Bryshere is due back in court at the end of the month.

We reached out to Bryshere's reps for comment ... and they say they're no longer working with him due to the state of his mental health and concerns over this legal representation.

They explain ... "Our company integrity prevents us from participating in any activity that places Mr. Gray at risk. We are not familiar with the legal representation handling Mr. Gray's criminal case in Virginia. Their representation of Mr. Gray makes us very uncomfortable, and we hope for the best outcome for Mr. Gray."

The man accused of murdering a Minnesota politician and seriously injuring another has given an unexpected glimpse into his motive in a new interview from prison.

Vance Boelter -- the man charged with killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette -- spoke to the New York Post in his first public comments since his arrest.

If you don't know ... top lawmakers have accused Boelter of committing the shootings for political reasons -- but, he says that's just not accurate.

Pro boxer Gervonta "Tank" Davis has bonded out of jail following his arrest for domestic violence -- and his unusual release is turning heads.

Check it out ... local outlet WPLG caught him exiting Florida's Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center just before 6 PM Friday with 3 Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department officers escorting him out.

Davis had no interest in speaking to local reporters who were kept at a distance thanks to his escort team ... and even tried keeping himself covered by pulling his white collared shirt over his head.

Eric Rosenbrook -- a reality star formerly on "90 Day Fiancé" -- was arrested after he allegedly got drunk and slapped his wife on the Fourth of July.

The 47-year-old was arrested in Adams, Wisconsin ... and, according to the criminal complaint, the victim claims everything went down when Rosenbrook -- already a few drinks in -- decided to go pick up some food from the local Kwik Mart.

According to the alleged victim -- who police say identified herself as his wife -- she became worried when Eric didn't return promptly ... and spotted him passed out in his car outside the apartment.

Boxing superstar Gervonta "Tank" Davis was arrested for domestic violence ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

The 30-year-old fighter was booked early Friday morning ... and his mug shot shows him wearing a white polo and giving a bit of a blank stare on his face.

According to reporter Andy Slater, an alleged altercation between Davis and his ex-girlfriend happened a few weeks ago ... and Tank was wanted by police ever since the incident.

Chris Brown faced two new charges in a London assault case Friday morning ... pleading not guilty to two additional counts stemming from a violent altercation two years ago in which a man's head was smashed with a bottle in a nightclub.

The R&B singer arrived at London's Southwark Crown Court dressed in a brown suit Friday morning to plead not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm, and not guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place -- a tequila bottle.

This follows a court appearance last month when Brown pled not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm -- the most serious of the three counts -- in the same case ... Brown's accused of smashing the bottle over Abraham Diaw's head in February 2023 at TAPE nightclub.

Casey Anthony looks like she's settling into some new surroundings ... because after being spotted on a date in New Hampshire, she's doing some shopping nearby.

TMZ obtained video of Casey bolting out of the T.J. Maxx in Manchester on Thursday afternoon ... the day after she was spotted out on a date at a sports bar in town.

Casey's rolling solo on this occasion ...  and she's got two plastic shopping bags stuffed to the gills -- so it looks like she's stocking up on clothing and home goods.

"Boardwalk Empire" star Michael Pitt says the ex-girlfriend who accused him of sexual abuse had a rape and violence fantasy ... and he claims she even laughed about a time he tried to play along by sticking a finger in her butt while knowing she didn't like it.

Michael's attorney, Paul Townsend, is trying to get his bail conditions modified so he can travel internationally for work ... and just included a bunch of text messages in their legal papers, including one that appears to show the woman admitting to lying about certain allegations of sexual assault and violence.

Pitt was arrested in May and is now facing a 9-count indictment in New York, charging him with, among other things, assault, sexual abuse and strangulation based on alleged encounters from April 2020 through August 2021.